Honing device



y 1942- K. w. CONNOR I 2,284,134

HONING DEVICE Filed April 27. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I II I z I 1 .|1.....m.H..........| Ag M 1r|.|....llii1ln m AH E 7 M lt M 4 1 2 4 d p 4 s M w fig W k I. H it I! 3 z a WWW Wu J m M N r 2f 2 M M May 26, 1942. y K. c NoR HONING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR llz'r/Te I4. ('onnqr:

. Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE HONING nnvrca Kirke w. Connor, Detroit, Mich, asslgnor to Micronfaflo Hone Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application April 27, 1936, Serial No. 76,521

'16 Claims.

My invention relates to methods and apparatus for honing cylinders, and particularly to a meth- Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are: to providea method and apparatus for uniod and apparatus for uniformly controlling the expansion of honing elements and maintaining constant pressures on each element to thereby control stone wear and produce more accurate and more highly polished surfaces.

Heretofore, when a plurality of honing elements were disposed radially about a spindle, they were urged outwardly from an axial support from which the workingsurfaces of the elements were fixed. When constructing the, honing elements, it was found impossible to retain the hardness of the elements uniform. As'a resu1t, when a plurality of abrading elements were placed in an abrading head, some'wo're away faster than others and the abrading surfaces were disposed at various radial distances from the central axis of the spindle. As a result, the surface of the harder elements or stones would be disposed at a greater distance "from the tool center and would deflect the tool to have the other stones engage the cyformly balancing the pressure on a plurality of radially movable abrading stones; to provide fluid actuating means for providing a balanced preslimited distance during the time the head is rolindrical surface to be ground. The resulting binding or cramping of the abrading head reduced the accuracy and finish of the honed surface. This lack of concentricity of the stone surfaces would cause the stones to be tilted rela tive to the spindle axis, and, as a. result, one end would wear away faster than the other and material stone lossresulted. a

In practicing my present invention, I mount each stone in an abrading head in such manner that a balanced pressure urges the stones radially of the spindle. Should one stone wear away faster than another, no unsatisfactory result wouldoccur, since the pressure on the stones would remain constant and the softer stone would be fed outwardly a greater amount than the harder stone, thus maintaining the stone surfaces concentric at all times with the spindle axis. To. accomplish this I mploy pistons or other fluid actuated means for urging the stones outwardv balanced expanding pressures or such fluid may be conducted into the head by suitable means. The head is preferably rapidly reciprocated over a short distance during the time it is rotated in synchronism therewith and when the work piece and the abrading head are materially different in length, an additional feed movement is provided therebetween.

tated in synchronism therewith, and for providing an additional relative feed between the abrading head and the work piece; and, in general,

to provide a honing tool for producing accurate and highly polished surfaces, which is simple in construction, positive in operation and economical of manufacture. e

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a honing device embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a honing tool, illustrating a further form which my invention may assume;

Fig. 3 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a still further form which my invention may assume;

Fig. 4 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, disclosing a further modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view of structure similar. to that iilustrated in Fig. 4, showing a still further form which my invention may assume.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a honing device ll) comprising a spindle II on which an abrading,

head I2 is secured. The head I2 is of conventional form comprising a body l3 having spaced spiders I4 which are slotted at l5 radially of the axis of the spindle ll. Honing stones l6 are disposed in the slots l5 for radial outward movement.- The stones may be provided with a back- .ing element H, as illustrated in the Frank J.

'Jeschke' Reissue Patent No. 19,149, issued April 24, 1934,and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. 'Hooks i8, projecting from the ends of the elements II, are engaged by garter springs I! forurging the abrading stones l4 inwardly toward the axis of the tool body l3.

be rotated, at a roar-a to produce a desired angle of intersection of the abrading paths.

as pointed out in my above mentionedco-pendingappllcation. During the occurrence of this desirable abrading action, the work piece 4| and the'head f2 are fed relative to each other to have A fluid reservoir 2| is provided interiorly of the body l3. High precision cylinders 22 are illusthe abrading operation occur uniformly over the entire surface of the abrading stones and the trated as being disposed in the body wall com-- municating with the: base of the slots in the spiders l4. Such cylinders, however, may be machined directly in the wall. Accurately fitted pistons 23 are disposed within the cylinders 22' projecting into the bottom of the slots l5. -Heads 24 may be provided on the pistons 23 to prevent the pistons from being forced out of thecylin den; 22 and to provide a greater area of engagement with the fluid 25 within the reservoir 2| to increase the resulting pressure for urging the abrading stones I6 outwardly. Suitable washers 20, or other means, may be employed on the outer ends of the pistons23 for limiting their inward movement.

The spindle H is provided with a central openconducted into the cylinder on either side of the.

piston 29 by suitable conduits 3,3 and 34.

The spindle'll has a piston 29 A supporting bracket-35, which supports the cylinder 3| and therefore the tool It, also supports gears 36 and 31 which drive the spindle II in rotation... The gear 31 has a spline, engagement with the spindle II to permit the spindle to reciprocate relative tothe gear while providwork piece. After the abrading aperation has.

been completed, the pressure is relieved from the reservoir 2| permitting the stones I to be moved out of contact with the polished surface and the work piece is moved downwardly to clear the abrading head II.

In Fig.3, I have shown a further form which the invention, illustrated in Fig. 1, may assume. A work piece is mounted in a suitable holder 41, which holder and work piece are reciprocated and rotated. The rotation is eflected by a gear 43 which has a spline engagement withthe supporting spindle 49 driven by suitable means (not illustrated). An arm II has a bifurcated end 52 provided with pins 53 which'proict into a peripheral groove I4 to eflect the desired reciprocation of the work piece. A flexible cond'uit 65 may be employed for producing expansion and contraction of the abrading stones It in the head I2, while an additional conduit 56 may be employed for producing a slow feed movement between the abrading head |2 and-the work44,

when this is desirable. In this particular construction, the abrading' tool may be flxed when no feed movement is desired between the abrad ing head l2 and the work 44 we limited axial movement may be provided when such feed movement is utilized. This materiallysimplifles the fluid connection between" the pressure source and the tool. The predetermined oscillation and rotation between the abradirig head and the work piece is produced entirely: through the rotation and reciprocation of the work piece and may be ing a drive connection therebetween. A suitable motor (not illustrated) drives the gear 34 to produce the rotation of the gear 31 and .of the spindle I.

A work piece 4| is mounted in a suitable work piece holder 42 which is supported on a shaft 43 which may be moved longitudinally of its axis to provide a feed movement between the abrading head l2 and the work piece 4|. This movement is also utilized for loading and unloading the work relative to-the tool.

The operation of the honing tool It in reciprocation, in rotation and in providing a feed moveeflected'mechanically. i.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated another form which my invention may assume, wherein the abrading head I2 is rapidly reciprocated mechanically through a cam 41 operated by a motor 43 supported on a bracket l9. The'bracket is carried in ways 6| and is raised and lowered by a lead screw 82s!) that, in addition to the reciprocation of the honing tooLtheztool may be advanced relative to the work piece. The work piece 46' is supported'in a work holder 41' and driven *inrotation by a gear 93 which is securedto a shaft 34 iournaled in a suitable supporting bearment between the tool and work, is'similar to that described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 76,519, flled April 27, 1936,

1938, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. After the pressure has been relieved in the reservoir 2| and the abrading stones I! arecontracted bythe garter springs IS, the work piece 4| may be removed. when a new work piece has been inserted in the holder 42, shaft 43 is moved upwardly to have the work piece 4| disposed about the abrading head l2. "There-' which became Patent No. 2,108,029, February 8,

ing 45. The. expansion and retraction of the honing stones I are effected by a fluid pressure controlled through a suitable flexible .conduit ii.-

In Fig. 5, a further form of my invention is disclosed, wherein the work piece 48 is secured in a flxed support 41. Inthis construction the reciprocation, rotation and the relative feed movement between the abrading head and work are all produced by the honing apparatus. The structure is similar to'that illustrated in Fig. 1,

with the exceptionthatthe work support 41 is of the spindle-ll and the tube 21 introducesthe pressure to the abrading stones l3. In this construction, the tube'Zl is fixed so that the spindle reciprocates over the tube.

This reciprocation varies with the volume of fluid in the passage 26 and would, under ordinary circumstances, vary the pressure on the sary pressure. The fluid is introduced into the system by the conduit 69 and bled from the tool by the conduit iii. A suitable valve 59 controls the passage of the fluid in the conduits 69 and .ld to control the position of the stones l5.

'Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, above described, disclose the various arrangements which may be utilized for obtaining a balanced relation between the abrading stones, for producing the reciprocation of the stones during the time they are rotated When a liquid is utilized, the air in the and for introducing a relative feed movement between the work and abrading stones. All of such movements may be provided in the honing tool itself or in the work or in a combination thereof, as clearly illustrated.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated a still further form which my invention may assume, that wherein the fluid pressure is a self-contained portion of a honing tool. The upper portion ll of the tool is similar to that illustrated and described in the patent to F. M. Kern, No. 1,990,331, issued February 5, 1935, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Instead of the sleeve 12 operating a cone through a pin E3, the pin operates a piston -ill which bears against one end of a bellows T5. The bellows is sealed within the end of a sleeve. it which is screwed upon the end of an abrading head W. The hollow portion of the abrading head ll contains a rubber sack. it which may beenclosed in a sack 79 of leather or other durablematerial, which is sealed in the end of the abrading head i! in communication with the bellows l5. Fluid is provided within the sack l8 and bellowslfl and the pressure thereof may be varied through the action of the piston it upon the bellows. In this manner, the fluid within the sack it and bellows i5 is entirely enclosed and there is no possibility of the fluid escaping and varying the pressure or the operation of the tool. A. plurality of abrading elements it are supported on shoes 88 which are movable radially within the head ll. When the pressure is removed from the bellows E5, the garter springs it) cause the stones i8 and therefore the shoes iii to be moved inwardly to collapsed position.

After the abrading head has been inserted within a work piece, the operation of the cam fingers 82 will compress the bellows it and provide a pressure on the stones it to cause their expansion. In this manner, a uniform pressure is provided on'all of the stones irrespective of their thickness due to their varying degree of wear. The tool thus constructed operates otherwise in the same manner as the F. M. Kern tool above mentioned, which employed a wedge. Through the operation of the cam fingers 82, the stones are expanded and contracted relative to the, central axis of the tool and a predetermined degree of the expansion may be set off on the tool to limit the size to which the head may be expanded. By employing the bellows and flexible seek, the fluid is completely sealed within the tool and no variation in the honing operation can occur due to leaking fluid. The 75 tool,j compensating fir the variation in stone wear, -perrnits uniform pressure to be applied between each of the stone surfaces and the work and thereby produces extremely accurate and highly polished surfaces.

While I have described andillustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A honing tool of the hydraulic type embodying a. head having a plurality of fluid operated radially movable stones separated from the operating fluid, means for rapidly reciproeating saidabrading head and work piece relative to each other, means for relatively rotating said abrading head and work piece, means for introducing a feed movement parallel to said reciprocation between said abrading head and work piece for changing the relative position thereof, and means for regulating the fluid pressure within said abrading head for controlling the position of said stones.

2. A hydraulic honing tool embodying a head having a reservoir therein, a plurality of radially movable abrading stones secured to the outer s ce of said head, a plurality of pistons engagin said stones and projecting within said reservoir, and means for controlling the pressure within said reservoir for applying uniform radial pressure on said pistons.

3. A hydraulically actuated honing tool embodying a head having a hollow interior in which a flexible sack is disposed, radially adjustable abrading elementsin engagement with said sack, spring means for urging said abrading elements toward said sack, a bellows disposed in communication with said head and sealed relative thereto for providing a closed fluid system, and means for collapsing and expanding said bellows for controlling the fluid pressure within said sack to thereby control the radial position of said elements relative to the axis of the head;

4. A honing tool having a head providedwith a plurality of radially expansible elements, a

flexiblefiuid containing member for controlling the expansion and contraction of said honing elements, a fluid in said member and means for changing the pressure on said fluid.

5. A honing tool having a head provided with a plurality of radially expansible elements, av

flexible fluid containing member for controlling the expansion and contraction of said honing elements, a fluid in. said member, means for releasing the pressure on said fluid for permitting the retraction of said elements, and means for regulating the pressure of said fluid.

7. In a honing tool, an abrading head, a plurality of abrading stones radially movable in said head, radially disposed pistons in the wall of said head communicating with the hollow interior thereof at each end of said stone, fluid in said interior, and meansfor regulating the pressure of said fluid.

8. In a honing tool, an abrading head, a plurality of abrading stones radially movable 'in ends of said pistons communicating with said hollow interior being provided with heads.

9. A honing tool having a head provided with a plurality of radially expansible elements, flexible means containing a fluid engaging said elethe stone pressure is uniform independently of stone wear.

ments the material of which means is capable of expansion and contraction, and means ens gaging the flexible containing means for said fluid for applying apressure thereto. v

10. A honing tool having a plurality of radially I taining member disposed centrally of said elements, and means for changing the pressure of said fluid for expanding the material of said container and controlling the position of said elements.

11. A honing tool having a plurality of radially movable abrading elements, a flexible fluid containing member disposed centrally of said elements, and means for changing the volume of said fluid and expanding the material of said member for controlling the position of said elements.

12. A finishing tool ofthecharacter described for finishing surfaces on the inside of a hollow part, comprising a body, a' series of surfacing membersmore than two in number adjustable independently of one another in said body for substantially radial movement therein, an axially movable slide for each of said surfacing members, a common operating spring, and means operably interconnecting said spring to all of said slides to apply equal outward pres- 7 sure on all of said surfacing members.

' 13. A device for forming true round and ing on said stone mounting means, a fitting by means of which said tube may be expanded to force said stones outwardly uniformly against the work in all positions of said stones whereby 14. An expansible hone comprising a substantially cylindrical member having a relatively thick wall through which a plurality of longitudinally extending radial slots extend and a central, longitudinally extending bore, the sides of said slots being substantially parallel to radii of said member whereby the cross-secton of each of the flxed bars extending longitudinally between slots is substantially trunco-pyramidal with the truncated end extending inward, substantially rectangular, longitudinally extending tool holder bars movably mounted in said slots and guided by the sides thereof for radial movement, surface finishing tools carried by said tool holder bars, resilient means carried by said member and retaining said tool holder bars in movable abrading elements, a flexible fluid consaid slots, and a fluid-expansible bag in said central bore and havinga fluid transmitting opening thereinto whereby fluid pressure may be exerted against the interior surface of saidbag in order to expand the same into said slots and munication withthe outlet from said core structure, a plurality of abrading elements of the honing stone type associated with said core structure in position to be movable outwardly radially of said core structure by-expansion of said shell in response to fluid pressure therein, and means resiliently opposing outward movement of said abrading elements for causing inward radial movement thereof upon release of mud pressure from the interior of said shell,

said elements being spaced about the surface of said shell and extending substantially longitudinally thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said core structure.

18. In an abrading head, a plurality of radially movable abrading stones, a body for supporting said stones, holders for said stones, pistons engaging said holders, and a unit supply of fluid for urging said pistons to independently actuate said holder and radially move said stones.

KIRKE W. C ONNOR. 

